Fans and former players have also been leaving their tributes to Cliffy, who was a keen follower of South Shields Football Club.

Gavin Peacock, who played for the Magpies in the early 1990s, said on Twitter: “Very sad to hear that @NUFC loyal fan, Cliffy Ahmed, passed away. The kind of person that makes the Geordie fans so special. #NUFC.”

Staff at The Back Page shop tweeted: “Yet another one taken away from us too soon. His whole life utterly dedicated to NUFC. We are gutted. Miss you lad.”

And South Shields FC’s account posted: “The thoughts of everyone at SSFC are with the friends and family of #nufc superfan Cliffy Ahmed, also a regular face at Mariners Park. RIP.”